Telegram Crypto Scams Surge After Huione Shutdown: What You Need to Know

Telegram has long been a favorite among crypto users. But now, it’s also become a hotbed for criminal activity. Following the takedown of Huione Guarantee, a massive darknet crypto marketplace, scammers quickly found new digital homes.

Tudou Guarantee, among others, is now rising fast as the next big scam hub. In this article, we dive into how Telegram-based scams evolved, who’s behind them, and what you can do to protect yourself.

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Key Takeaways

1. After Huione Guarantee’s shutdown, Telegram saw a 400% spike in crypto scam marketplace activity.

2. Tudou Guarantee has absorbed much of Huione’s traffic and is now a major player in illicit crypto trade.

3. Criminals use USDT and encrypted platforms like Telegram to avoid detection, making enforcement extremely difficult.

The Fall of Huione Guarantee and the Rise of Telegram Marketplaces

Huione Guarantee was no small operation. Before being shut down in May 2025, it handled over $27 billion in illicit transactions, acting as a trusted escrow for crypto scams.

Vendors sold everything from fake IDs and hacked data to tools used in online fraud. Telegram was its base of operations, giving criminals a convenient, anonymous communication channel.

When Telegram removed Huione’s public channels, the expectation was that the marketplace would die out. But that wasn’t the case. Instead of disappearing, these vendors simply relocated.

Many of them moved to Tudou Guarantee, a similar service that uses Telegram channels to facilitate transactions. According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, Tudou has already surpassed 300,000 transactions and is gaining ground quickly.

Other platforms also emerged, creating a web of decentralized scam networks. These new groups often use the same playbook: stablecoins like USDT, escrow guarantees, and a menu of illicit services. The shutdown of one site only leads to the rise of many more, each harder to track and control.

Complicating things further is the rise of rebranded domains. Huione, for example, has resurfaced under names like Huione.me. It even continues to trade tokens like XOC and USDH, the latter of which has been flagged by FinCEN due to its resistance to freezing and seizure.

Despite losing its main Telegram channels, Huione’s underlying financial system remains active. This makes it clear that simply taking down channels is not enough.

Read more: Cointelegraph Phishing Hack: Be Careful Readers!

How Criminal Networks Exploit Telegram and USDT

Telegram’s appeal lies in its blend of features: large group chats, bots, end-to-end encryption, and anonymity. While these are great for community building, they also allow criminals to operate with little interference.

When paired with a cryptocurrency like Tether (USDT), which is fast, stable, and hard to trace without specific tools, it creates a perfect storm.

The scam services now offered on Telegram mirror those once exclusive to Huione:

1. Sale of stolen personal and financial data

2. Money laundering operations

3. “Pig butchering” scams, where victims are lured into fake relationships and then financially exploited

Vendors use Telegram groups as storefronts. Buyers pay in USDT and interact with bots that mimic real customer service. The illusion of trust is maintained using escrow services, even if the entire transaction is illegal.

Telegram did take steps to remove many Huione-linked accounts. But these efforts did not touch the broader payment systems or backend operations.

As a result, criminals simply set up shop again under new names. Some are even building their own messaging apps like ChatMe and SafeW to dodge future crackdowns.

TRM Labs and Chainalysis have highlighted the challenge of distinguishing between legitimate and illegal crypto transactions, especially when the platforms use similar infrastructures.

Often, the only difference is what the wallet is being used for, something hard to determine without deep analysis.

This shadow economy is not just a digital problem. Many of the networks tied to Telegram scams have links to real-world crime, including human trafficking and ties to groups like North Korea’s Lazarus Group. It’s a mix of cybercrime and organized crime, and it’s proving tough to dismantle.

Read more: How to Hack Wi-Fi Passwords? A Guide to Understanding the Risks and Protection

What Can Be Done to Fight Telegram Crypto Scams

The situation is clearly out of hand. Telegram alone cannot solve this issue. Removing channels helps, but it’s like playing whack-a-mole. As long as criminals can migrate to new channels, domains, and platforms, the problem will persist.

Here’s what experts say is needed:

1. Platform-level monitoring: Telegram and similar platforms must invest in better tools to detect and report illicit financial activity.

2. Blockchain forensics: Companies like Elliptic and Chainalysis play a crucial role by linking wallets to illicit behavior and flagging suspicious activity.

3. Government cooperation: International law enforcement must work together to dismantle the infrastructure supporting these scams, including domain hosts and payment processors.

For users, education is still the best defense. Here are some actionable steps:

1. Never trust unsolicited messages or offers on Telegram.

2. Avoid groups that require USDT payments without third-party verification.

3. Use crypto wallets and exchanges that have strong anti-scam policies and detection systems.

Criminal groups are adapting fast. They are creating new tools, platforms, and tokens designed to evade detection. This is not just a cybersecurity issue anymore; it’s a global criminal economy fueled by crypto, tech, and social engineering.

Read more: a16z Official X Account Hacked, Then Releases Fake Tokens

Conclusion

Telegram’s crackdown on Huione Guarantee was a step in the right direction, but it wasn’t enough. The scammers simply moved to new platforms, with Tudou Guarantee rising as the latest hub.

Meanwhile, the criminal ecosystem continues to thrive, powered by stablecoins like USDT and protected by encryption and fragmented infrastructure. To stay safe, users must be vigilant, and platforms like Telegram need to adopt a more proactive stance.

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FAQ

What was Huione Guarantee and why was it shut down?

Huione Guarantee was a major Telegram-based darknet marketplace that facilitated over $27 billion in crypto scams. It was shut down by Telegram due to its illegal activities, but parts of its network are still active under new names.

Is Tudou Guarantee legal?

No, Tudou Guarantee is not legal. It serves as an underground platform for illegal services, including money laundering and scam infrastructure, using Telegram as its base.

How can I avoid crypto scams on Telegram?

Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources, never send payments without verification, and use secure platforms like Bitrue that actively monitor for suspicious activity and scams.

Disclaimer: The views expressed belong exclusively to the author and do not reflect the views of this platform. This platform and its affiliates disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or suitability of the information provided. It is for informational purposes only and not intended as financial or investment advice.